Opener for rimless cans



March 7, 1950 J. E. cooKE:

OPENER FOR RIMLESS CANS Filed Nov. 18, 1946 INVENTOR.

A TT'OR/VEY.

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a novel and simplified construction of a can opener which can be economically manufactured by a stamping operation, and which, when placed on top of a can, can be rocked to puncture the can at spaced locations to provide a pouring opening and a vent opening.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel opener for rimless cans comprising an integral member having flanges to overhang opposite sides of a can, having depending rockers at the sides, having depending cutters in proximity to the flanges, and having a top face of substantial area to receive the pressure of the hand of the operator to effect the rocking movement of the opener and the puncturing of the can at spaced locations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel opener for cans.

It further comprehends a, novel opener for cans comprising an integral member having can puncturing means and novel means to cause a rocking action of the opener.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which I have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and the invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an opener for cans embodying my invention in position on a can, the can being shown in broken lines.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, the section being taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the can shown in full lines, and with the opener in the position it assumes after making one puncture.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the same lines as Figure 2, but showing the opener in the position it assumes after making the opposite puncture.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The opener l is preferably made from sheet metal by a stamping and shaping operation so that in its final form it consists of an integral piece of material. The body portion 2 is in the form of a plate of substantial area having opposite marginal portions deflected downwardly to form curved flanges, corresponding to the curvature of a round can, as shown at 3 and 4, and which overhang the sides of the can on which the opener has been placed.

At opposite sides of the opener midway between the flanges, depending rockers 5 and 6 are provided adapted to rest on the top of a can 1. The rockers 5 and 6 are formed by tabs deflected downwardly from opposite sides of the plate and rounded at their bottom faces.

Cutting elements 8 and 9, preferably for-med by deflecting portions of the plate downwardly, are effective to puncture a can when the opener is rocked thereon.

The manner in which the opener is used will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows.

The opener is placed on top of a can with the flanges overhanging the sides of the can. The operator presses downwardly with his hand on the opener at one side of the center of the opener and then the opposite side thereby causing the puncturing elements to form spaced openings in the top of the can. The opener is removed from the can by grasping the flanges and lifting the opener off of the can.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An opener for cans, comprising a plate having flanges at opposite ends to overhang a can, puncturing means depending from the plate at opposite ends thereof, and tabs deflected downwardly from opposite sides of the plate intermediately of said puncturing means and rounded on their bottom faces on which the opener may rock when placed on a can.

2. An opener for cans, comprising an integral piece of material having a top of substantial area and having depending flanges at opposite ends to overhang the sides of a can, downwardly deflected puncturing elements formed from the material in proximity to said flanges, and depending rockers at the sides of the opener intermediately of the puncturing elements.

JOSEPH E. COOKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,850 Russell Feb. 6, 1900 1,709,736 Patermann Apr. 16, 1929 1,827,679 Stuart Oct. 13, 1931 2,163,301 Will June 20, 1939 2,359,883 Swanson Oct. 10, 944 

